40 years at the forefront of British AOR, FM can be considered legends of the game. Still led by Steve Overland, his smoother than silk vocals and fluid clean guitar lines, they have listened through their most popular albums, have attempted to recreate the 'best' elements of these albums to properly celebrate the band. It hasn't been all plain sailing however keyboard player Jem Davis was diagnosed with cancer, but has since had the all clear and former guitarist Chris Overland, co-founding member of the band passed away suddenly so this delayed the record as Steve grieved for his brother.
Self producing the record over the course of a year, Old Habits Die Hard, then is more than just a title it's a mantra for the band in general. It's too late to change their spots as it were, so with this album they are capturing what the essence of FM is throughout the years. We wind back to the 80's with opener Out Of The Blue, keyboardist Davis' the writer of the track inspired by Toto and Foreigner and that percussive synth sound, as they bring those blues beginnings on Don't Need Another Heartache, strutting guitars and drums as Steve croons.
It's on No Easy Way Out that we get to 'classic' FM as Lost adds some harder edged rocking with Black Water bubbling like some dark blues paired with Queen, Merv Goldsworthy's slithering bass, Pete Jupp's drumming broad and creeping as it makes it's way into a killer solo from Jim Kirkpatrick. This is the moodiest track on the record as the breezy California and Blue Sky Mind, bring back the upbeat poppy choruses the latter a cathartic track for Davis. These old habits definitely die hard for FM, it's a run through 40 years of British melodic rock from these veterans. 8/10
Self producing the record over the course of a year, Old Habits Die Hard, then is more than just a title it's a mantra for the band in general. It's too late to change their spots as it were, so with this album they are capturing what the essence of FM is throughout the years. We wind back to the 80's with opener Out Of The Blue, keyboardist Davis' the writer of the track inspired by Toto and Foreigner and that percussive synth sound, as they bring those blues beginnings on Don't Need Another Heartache, strutting guitars and drums as Steve croons.
It's on No Easy Way Out that we get to 'classic' FM as Lost adds some harder edged rocking with Black Water bubbling like some dark blues paired with Queen, Merv Goldsworthy's slithering bass, Pete Jupp's drumming broad and creeping as it makes it's way into a killer solo from Jim Kirkpatrick. This is the moodiest track on the record as the breezy California and Blue Sky Mind, bring back the upbeat poppy choruses the latter a cathartic track for Davis. These old habits definitely die hard for FM, it's a run through 40 years of British melodic rock from these veterans. 8/10
Black Pyramid - The Paths Of Time Are Vast (Totem Cat Records)
Signing to Totem Cat records, The Paths Of Time Are Vast is the first album from Black Pyramid since 2013 and they crash back into the doomsphere with more transcendental psychedelic sludge that will appease any long time fans of the band, but also win over potential new fans.
Just eight songs most of them are elongated riff packed crushers, Crypt On The Borderlands having a suitable doom chug for any fans that want to get their head banging, but these are augmented by shorter interlude pieces where they expand their spatial horizons to give evidence on the psychedelic style of their genre tag.
The billowing bass of Andy Kivela is the touchstone for all the colossal heaviness that has been born out of this being the longest tenured version of Black Pyramid, so they are an accomplished, matured, in-sync unit. Solidified as a trio, jamming together to create these stories of: "a voyage beyond the realms of birth and death."
With Kivela laying down the interstellar grooves that rattle you more than a Saturn V rocket lifting off, Eric Beaudry highlights himself as the expressive, percussive power behind the pulverising doom of Take Us To The Threshold, but also the grounding when things go further into the outer realms of space rock. With the engine room full of talent and propulsion it's Andy Beresky's guitar playing that is beautifully realised.
With fluid The Doors like psychedelia on Astral Suicide, all of the talent culminating in the three part title track suite which is one of the best things the band have turned their hand too. Spiralling between existential weirdness and deafening earthly doom. I could say The Paths Of Time Are Vast is a masterpiece and I damn well will. 9/10
Pirate Queen - Ghosts (Despotz Records)
Behind all the mystique and storyline that surrounds Ghosts by Pirate Queen, they are a symphonic metal band that brings LARP into their live shows, dressing up in armour etc to reflect their own characters. Their live shows I can imagine are sort of like a band playing in the middle of a video game. I could go into the lore around this band but that will take ages so I'll concentrate on the music. Ghosts gets going with galloping high speed opener Pirates From The Sea, it's foot to the floor power metal and from there we touch most of the facets of symphonic/power metal.
Pirate Queen - Ghosts (Despotz Records)
Behind all the mystique and storyline that surrounds Ghosts by Pirate Queen, they are a symphonic metal band that brings LARP into their live shows, dressing up in armour etc to reflect their own characters. Their live shows I can imagine are sort of like a band playing in the middle of a video game. I could go into the lore around this band but that will take ages so I'll concentrate on the music. Ghosts gets going with galloping high speed opener Pirates From The Sea, it's foot to the floor power metal and from there we touch most of the facets of symphonic/power metal.
From the epic questing of In Search Of Eldorado, there's some massive the orchestral swells in Santa Lucia and classic metal chug of Open Fire, all given the soaring soprano vocals that only symphonic metal can give. I'll be honest, despite the new visual elements and some very expensive tie ins with prop makers and costumers, Pirate Queen are an atypical symphonic metal that's entertaining but adds nothing that new. 6/10
Doubtsower - Nothing Reduced To Everything (UBAii / Unbidden Audio)
Matt Strangis is a bit of a wizard when it comes to music, as well as being the bass player in current line up of Pantheïst, he also performs under the guise of Kyam as an experimental electronic music producer. As well of both of these he has his Doubtsower project, taking doom metal and twisting it into strange new shapes. Extremely D.I.Y this doesn't mean amateur by any means, Strangis recorded everything, wrote everything, produced everything and gave it to Greg Chandler of Esoteric for mastering.
Doubtsower - Nothing Reduced To Everything (UBAii / Unbidden Audio)
Matt Strangis is a bit of a wizard when it comes to music, as well as being the bass player in current line up of Pantheïst, he also performs under the guise of Kyam as an experimental electronic music producer. As well of both of these he has his Doubtsower project, taking doom metal and twisting it into strange new shapes. Extremely D.I.Y this doesn't mean amateur by any means, Strangis recorded everything, wrote everything, produced everything and gave it to Greg Chandler of Esoteric for mastering.
It's his third album and he wanted to make it more experimental, adding additional layers on top of the doom template. In the information attached the varying genres include blackened doom, post-metal, stoner, and electronic experimentation. Trampled Ideals Sold Cut Price for instance has some post-metal clean guitar chords, indistinct croaking vocals and a jungle breakbeat, Liars, Cheats, All continues the downbeat atmosphere with abrasive noise that shifts into acoustics, the the title track is probably the only song you consider traditional doom, slow moving crushing doom metal which keeps it pretty similar to Strangis' other band.
The level of musicianship is extremely impressive, the breadth of genres covered also will take you on fantastic journey's in sound. If the more experimental side of doom captures your imagination then Doubtsower needs to be on your radar. 8/10
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